Honest Questions and Bible Answers 2

I am sure that you’ve heard the expression, “Kill two
birds with one stone.”  Recently I was asked a
question that I believe this expression applies well to.
The question was: “Did Christ actually save anyone
by His death on the cross, or did He just make men
savable?”  The answer to this question is quite
simple: He did
BOTH.

You see, before Christ came in the flesh many men
were worshippers of the only true and living God; yet
they were all in need of a savior, for even the most
faithful of Israel were sinners, and they did not live to
see what Christ would accomplish at the cross.  What
hope, then, did they have?  Hebrews 11:13 tells us
“These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them…”
Christ’s
eventual sacrifice would save those faithful ones who
died prior to His death, burial, and resurrection
(11:39-40).  All who have lived after the cross
(including you and I) have been called upon to obey
the gospel of Christ that we may be saved (Rom.
1:16; Jas. 1:21).  Therefore, friends, by His death He
saved many, and also made many savable.  Are you
saved?

Posted in Aaron Veyon | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Honest Questions and Bible Answers 2

Honest Questions and Bible Answers 1

Have you ever heard someone ask, “Which came
first, the chicken or the egg?”  Such questions are
often based on humor and are usually intended to be
a brainteaser.  Recently, with regard to being “born
again” (a spiritual birth), I was asked, “Which takes
place first, regeneration or faith?”  Such a question
derives from the fact that there are those who believe
that one cannot come to faith unless he is first born
again.  However, the Bible teaches just the opposite:
(faith precedes regeneration).

In Romans 6:4 Paul states matter-of-factly that
AFTER one is “buried with (Christ) through baptism”
one walks
“in newness of life” (which is an obvious
reference to a “new birth”).  In Colossians 2:13 Paul
again states that
AFTER one is “buried with (Christ)
in baptism” (v. 12)
“He has made us alive together
with Him”
(regeneration).  Additionally, Paul pointed
out in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that one
“is a new creation”
(born again)
IF he is “in Christ.” Therefore friends,
faith comes before regeneration (just as the chicken
came before the egg – Gen. 1:20-25).

Posted in Aaron Veyon | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Honest Questions and Bible Answers 1

The Mercy of God

In last week’s article we discussed the terms “grace”
(“unmerited favor”) and “mercy” (“compassion”).  It has
been said that “grace” is receiving something that we
do not deserve (e.g., salvation); whereas “mercy” is not
receiving something that we do deserve (e.g.,
condemnation).

During Andrew Jackson’s presidency a man named
George Wilson robbed a train and killed a guard.  He
was convicted and sentenced to hang.  However,
before the sentence could be carried out, President
Jackson intervened with a presidential pardon.
Amazingly, Wilson refused it.  Ultimately, the case went
to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Marshall
handed down the court’s decision: “A pardon is a
parchment whose only value must be determined by the
receiver of the pardon.  It has no value apart from that
which the receiver gives to it.  George Wilson has
refused to accept the pardon.  We cannot conceive why
he would do so, but he has.  Therefore, George Wilson
must die.”  “Pardon,” declared the Supreme Court,
“must not only be granted, it must be accepted.”
Thusly, George Wilson was hanged for his crimes.

Likewise, God, who delights in mercy (Mic. 7:18; Isa. 55:
6-7; Lam. 3:22-23), has provided pardon for our sins
through His Son Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3); but we must
be in Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26-29) in order to obtain His
mercy (Tit. 3:5; cf. Lk. 1:50).  God’s pardon must be
accepted in the way God has ordained; for those who
do not accept His pardon will perish.  Friend, have you
been pardoned from your sins?

Posted in Aaron Veyon | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Mercy of God

You’ve Got a Big Mouth

Has anyone ever said that to you?  If so, I’m guessing
that you didn’t take it as a compliment.  How could
you?  It insinuates that you have spoken something
that is unacceptable (perhaps you told a lie, betrayed
a confidence, slandered someone, etc.).  But you
know, in a sense, the Bible accuses us of the same
thing when we’ve said something wrong.  In fact,
James gives a stern warning about the dangers of the
tongue.  In James 3:5 he said,
“Even so the tongue is
a little member and boasts great things.  See how
great a forest a little fire kindles!”

It has been said that more damage can be
accomplished by a thing spoken than by a deed
done.  If you have ever been on the receiving end of a
verbal assault you know this can be very true.  (That
old “sticks and stones” rhyme doesn’t always help,
does it?)  But beware of hypocrisy.  There are those
who never blink an eye at gossiping, backbiting, and
slandering others; but should those same words be
spoken against them, they will cry, “Foul.”  Are you
like that?  If so, always remember, “the measure you
use, it will be measured back to you”
(Matt. 7:1).
Friend, Jesus did not say, “Do unto others as they do
unto you,” or “before they do unto you.”  He said,
“…whatever you want men to do to you, do also to
them…”
(v. 12).  If you don’t want people speaking
evil of you, don’t speak evil of them.  Do you get what
I’m saying?

Posted in Aaron Veyon | Tagged , , | Comments Off on You’ve Got a Big Mouth

Not By Faith Only

Are we saved by faith alone?  Many would say,
“Yes,” but is that what the Bible actually teaches?
Let’s see.

On this subject, James asks, “What does it profit, my
brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not
have works?  Can faith save him?”
(Jas. 2:14)  As he
goes on to prove, that kind of faith will save no one.
Please understand that James does not minimize the
importance of faith.  The doctrine of salvation by faith
is clearly taught in the New Testament (Rom. 5:1;
1 Jn. 5:1; Jn. 3:16; 3:36; etc.), but nowhere in the
New Testament is the doctrine of salvation by faith
ONLY taught.  The faith that saves is of the type that
expresses itself in obedience to the commandments
of the Lord (cf. 1 Jn. 2:3-6); and it produces a
blessing only when it does so.  Hence why James
said,
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have
works, is dead”
(Jas. 2:17).

Yet, someone may say, “But Paul said we are not
saved by works.”  Paul said “that a man is justified
by faith apart from the deeds of the law”
(Rom. 3:28);
whereas James said,
“You see then that a man is
justified by works, and not by faith only”
(Jas. 2:24).
Is this a contradiction?  Certainly not.  The difference
is that Paul was referring to works that are
EXCLUDED from God’s plan to save (e.g.,
meritorious works – Rom. 4:2-8; works of human
achievement or devising – Tit. 3:5, Eph. 2:8-9; etc.)
and James was referring to works that are
INCLUDED in God’s plan to save (i.e., obeying, by
faith, the commands of God – cf. Heb. 11:7,17-19;
Mk. 16:16; Acts 10:35; etc.)  They are that which
perfects faith (Jas. 2:20-24).  Please understand that
even Paul taught the necessity of obedience to the
commands of Christ (Rom. 6:17-18) in order to be
saved (Phil. 2:12; Rom. 2:8-9; 2 Thess. 1:8).  Those
who hold to a “faith only” doctrine (who reject any
works whatsoever) ought to also consider that Jesus
said that faith itself is a work (Jn. 6:28-29).

Faith by itself cannot be seen.  Its existence is
evidenced only through the works that it produces
(Jas. 2:18).  If all one had to do to be saved was
have the mental acceptance of Christ then the
demons could be saved (v. 19); yet that is not
possible (cf. Matt. 8:28-29).  I find it interesting that
the only passage in the Bible that says, “faith only”
(Jas. 2:24), is a passage that explicitly rejects the
doctrine of salvation by faith only.  In fact James said,
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also”
(v. 26)

So then, friend, is your faith a saving faith?

Posted in Aaron Veyon | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Not By Faith Only